You are considering applying for, or you have applied for, our BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS) degree. Below are answers to some questions you may have.
What is an interdisciplinary degree?
A Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree is intended for individuals whose experience, education or interests do not fall neatly into any of our existing programs. It is a personalized degree, meaning that you can customize it to your unique interests by taking courses from a variety of different RRU programs – if you have the background knowledge, experience or prerequisites to do so.
What can I do with an interdisciplinary degree?
Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds. Because each student’s program is personalized, it is difficult to single out any one sector or career path which benefits most from a BAIS degree; however, employers know that the challenges of the future will require interdisciplinary solutions. A BAIS degree allows you to be flexible in your career, as you can use different elements of your learning in different contexts.
What do I need in order to complete my application?
Please see our application requirements for the list of items to include in your application.
You will also connect with the program office (via zoom, phone or in person) to discuss and determine your program of study. Please email the program team to set up this meeting.
I’ve completed some 3rd and 4th year undergraduate-level courses at another university (or at RRU), can I transfer these credits to this degree?
If the courses make sense in the overall framework of your program, then in most cases the answer is yes, unless you have taken them as part of a credential. You will need to apply for transfer credit and supply course outlines for courses completed at other institutions in order for them to be considered.
How do I select courses and build my schedule?
From this guide and your conversation with us, you select a number of courses that you’re interested in. We recommend you choose at least three extra courses to allow for flexibility in scheduling. The program team reviews course dates and plots your schedule. There are often a few reiterations of your schedule to find the best fit for you, e.g., do you want to avoid overlap of courses, do you need breaks between courses, do you need to have them completed by a particular date, etc.
What will my schedule look like?
Your schedule will be unique to you and the courses you select.
Here is what a schedule could look like taking all RRU courses – click here to view
Here is what a schedule could look like taking some external courses – click here to view
Should I consider enrolling in an on-campus residency?
We understand that for many of our students, attending a residency on campus is not feasible. However, if you have the ability to, we highly recommend that you come to campus for some of your coursework. Many students who have completed a residency express that it was extremely rewarding and allowed them to concentrate on their academics, something that we know can be difficult to do when balancing home, work, family and other commitments.